Wellbeing Week Invitation

This month we are taking this course and turning it into an online event - this is a chance for you to enjoy everything about this course but with the added bonus of being a part of an interactive group while doing it.

We are calling this event WELLBEING WEEK 2012 and you are warmly invited to join us.

This is an online and completely free event that takes place from June 11 to June 17, 2012 on Facebook or via email (if you are not a facebook fan).

To join on Facebook (recommended as we have created a private Facebook group where you will be able to interact with us and all the other participants), simply click here and hit the 'join' button.

If you are not on Facebook but still want to participate simply reply to this email with your email address and name and I will include you via daily emails.

Fun & Healthy Travel Tips

I used to do a lot of budget backpack travelling in Asia. Recently I find myself doing more hotel/city travelling in the USA.

Many of these travel tips come from my more recent travels but you may be able to apply these anywhere you are travelling and even in your daily life at home.

Below is a list of some of the neat things I have done and discovered that have made my travels more healthy, happy and enjoyable;

Essential Oils: We always travel with a small bottle of lavender essential oil and peppermint essential oil. A couple drops of lavender on the pillow helps for a great sleep. Rub peppermint on the soles of your feet for a quick pick-me-up. For my trusted source of high quality essential oils, click here.

Olive Oil Moisturizer: Packing creams and oils for your skin can be messy. Instead, once at your destination, go to any restaurant and ask if they can give you a small amount of olive oil. Be friendly and smile and most places will provide you with this free of charge. Olive oil makes a really great and healthy moisturizer for your skin. Being that the air in many hotels is very dry, this will help to nourish your skin as well. Use the olive oil as is or add a drop of essential oil for some added nutrition and protection for your skin.

Health at Starbucks?? I don't drink coffee but many people I travel with like to go to Starbucks for their fix. I recently discovered that you can buy hot apple juice from them. It is not on their menu but if you ask they have it. Be sure to ask for it plain or they may put an unhealthy dose of caramel syrup in it! Once you get it, go over to their fixings counter and add a sprinkle of cinnamon on top. This is a yummy and healthy option if you find yourself with a group that wants to go to Starbucks.

Get a Fridge: Call ahead to the hotel you will be staying at and request for a fridge to be put in your room. Most hotels will be able to do this for you free of charge. You can also request one right at check-in and they can usually accommodate. Use the fridge to store some fresh food.

Fresh Food in Your Room: Before you get to a new city google where the Whole Foods or health food stores are located. Once you arrive, stop in and stock up on a few goodies like avocado, lettuce, tomatoes, bananas, apples, etc. Don't forget to pack a small pocket knife to cut your fruit. Room service can provide you with a knife (if you didn't bring your own), bowls and cutlery. This is a great way to get some wholesome nutrition into you in between all those restaurant meals.

Remember the Water: Buy water at the store as well and keep plenty of drinking water in your room. Staying well hydrated while travelling is the easiest way to stay regular, healthy and happy.

Look Online for Deals: Look online for discounts on hotel rooms. On our last trip I used travelocity and was able to book a $200/night suite for just $29/night. WOW! Saving money on the room allows you to have extra money to use on your trip. You won't always find a great deal like the one I found but you just never know.. check these sites out a few different times before booking as their prices sometimes vary from hour to hour.

Jean Liedloff, an American writer, spent two and a half years in the South American jungle living with Stone Age Indians. While there, her Western preconceptions of how to raise a child, were shattered. She learned by observing and living amongst a culture whose children were healthier, happier and more balanced and content than anything she had seen before.

She wrote the book, The Continuum Concept, to share with us what she learned... to show us practical ways to regain natural well-being for our children and for ourselves.

This is a great book that truly spoke to my heart and one that I highly recommend, not just for parents, but for everyone.

Click here if you would like to read more reviews and/or purchase this book.

Tip of the Month - Clean Your Mattress

Here is a tip that I recently learned from a beautiful soul on Facebook.

When was the last time you cleaned your mattress? It is a part of our home that often gets overlooked when we clean our living space.

Here is an easy, natural and non-toxic way to go about this.

Pour about 1 cup of baking soda into a Mason jar or any glass jar with a lid and drop in 4 drops of lavender essential oil. (buy essential oils, here)

Put on the lid and shake the jar.

Using a kitchen strainer, sprinkle the baking soda mixture all over the mattress and let it sit for an hour or more.

Thoroughly vacuum the mattress.

This will take care of dust mites and other nasties that may have been collecting on your mattress. The baking soda helps to draw up any moisture and deep dirt while deodorizing and leaving the mattress smelling fresh and clean.

The essential oil is anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, anti-septic and is just plain great smelling.

We use this technique in our home often for our carpets and upholstery, and it makes perfect sense to use it on our mattresses too!

I lost track of who it was that originally posted this on Facebook, so I apologize for not crediting that person by name here ... Thank You very much for this beautiful sharing.